Anyone who has visited the brilliant island nations of the Caribbean can truly say that they return home full of good will and good vibes. ForwardKeys has released the latest travel data showing that friendly hospitality and excellent air connections now warrant more international visitors than anywhere else in the world.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, ForwardKeys data highlighted the success stories of Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic – but in 2022 the number of travelers across the region has increased dramatically.
“The example of the Caribbean is not limited to showing a great example of a region recovering, but it is a region that is growing – despite all the macroeconomic factors taking place now such as the slowdown of the world economy, the increase in oil costs and the effects of the war in Ukraine,” says Olivier Ponti, VP of Insights at ForwardKeys.
In the fourth quarter, tourism figures accelerate even more, well in many countries. At the head of foreign arrivals is the Dominican Republic, with 40% more than in 2019, followed by the US Virgin Islands (+33%), Bonaire (+30%) and Martinique (+26%).
“Air connectivity seems to be the key to achieving growth,” Ponti adds. “If we examine our Seat Capacity Data, we see that destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Guadeloupe are performing better thanks to the increase in direct flights since 2019.”
Curacao and Bonaire have fared especially well this year, experiencing a wider desire for each respective destination thanks to an increase in affluent premium class travelers, varied origin markets (North America, Europe and Latin America) and travel purposes.
“Premium cabin travel to the Caribbean in the third quarter is up 27% from the pre-pandemic era. In Curaçao and Bonaire there is a triple-digit increase compared to 2019 levels: +120% and +110%… This is huge and especially good news not only for airlines and hotels but for the goods and services sector.”
“This is an accurate result of our Tourism Recovery Plan and our strategy to target and reach the affluent traveler looking for an eco-conscious vacation experience. Tourism plays an important role in our economic recovery and these data findings and conclusions are our guiding force when planning,” says Miles Mercera, CEO of the Bonaire Tourism Corporation.
Another sign that times are changing is that travelers with purchasing power are flying from North America and, more recently, South America.
In the fourth quarter, the Caribbean is very popular with Colombians. There is a 54% change in the number of arrivals compared to the same time in 2019. Meanwhile, Curacao can see a change of +304% from Argentina.
Digging a little deeper, we discover that Curacao is also a growing honeymoon destination: ForwardKeys air ticketing data reveals that the number of couples flying has increased by 42% in the fourth quarter of this year versus 2019 levels.
Finally, some Caribbean destinations are even managing to attract the non-leisure market. Across the region, business travel is making a comeback and growth mode. St. Lucia is up 22% in business travelers in the fourth quarter of this year from 2019 levels, an achievement as the destination has struggled to interest more business events.
Source:
Caribbean News Digital
